Shane Waldron has coordinated two games for the Chicago Bears and is already under fire. Much of it comes from his inability to help Caleb Williams find any rhythm. This stems from all sorts of problems with the offensive line. Not only are they unable to generate a push on the ground, but they’ve also allowed Williams to get sacked nine times, including seven against Houston last weekend. While people have called on GM Ryan Poles to find some personnel solutions, former three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth doesn’t believe that will help.
The two-time Pro Bowl guard explained on 670 The Score that no move the Bears make can fix the issue. This time of year, finding a player who can turn a line around is impossible. That is why he puts the blame on Waldron for the problems. He clearly isn’t doing a good enough job of helping the line with his play calling.
Last year, the Seattle Seahawks had offensive line issues brought about by injuries. Seattle stayed productive despite having to deal with constant leaks in the protection. The difference was Waldron had a veteran under center in Geno Smith. He was experienced enough to understand how to navigate the pocket and get the ball out. Williams does not yet have such benefits. This is something people don’t mention enough. He has never worked with such a young quarterback before. It has been exclusively veterans like Smith and Russell Wilson.
Perhaps Shane Waldron didn’t account enough for that. He felt the kid would be able to overcome any protection issues just like Smith could. It doesn’t work that way. The Bears offensive coordinator needs to be more self-aware of his personnel. This line is not equipped to protect on straight drops 30-35 times per game. He has to find ways around the problem. Otherwise, his stint in Chicago could be shorter than expected.
